I was utterly paralyzed, frozen in place by the gripping fear that seized my entire body. My widened eyes remained fixated on Karl, unblinking, as I swallowed hard in a futile attempt to dislodge the lump that had formed in my constricted throat. It felt like I was choking on the very air I breathed."No... No, it's not over yet," I stammered out in a voice shaking uncontrollably with the lie. An internal mantra played on repeat in my mind as I silently prayed to any higher power that might be listening, begging them to prevent Karl from seeing through the blatant deception. The harsh truth was my menstrual cycle had indeed ended just the day before. But there was absolutely no way I could bring myself to disclose that information to him. Doing so would be akin to painting a large target on my back. The very last thing I wanted—the very last thing I could possibly endure, was for him to make another attempt at violating me again.Karl's eyes narrowed into icy slits as he studied my
The warm morning sunlight filtered through the thick curtains the next morning. I stirred beneath the plush duvet, my body was sore and still heavy with sleep as Karl's lips trailed featherlight kisses along my cheek, down to the sensitive skin of my neck. A contented sigh escaped my parted lips when his mouth found that special spot just below my ear, sending a delicious shiver down my spine."Good morning, beautiful," he murmured huskily against my throat, his breath fanning over my rapidly flushing skin. The low, gravelly timbre of his voice sent another wave of warmth coursing through me. Reluctantly, I blinked my eyes open to find his intense gaze fixed on me."Morning," I muttered, suddenly self-conscious under the weight of his stare. I averted my eyes shyly, feeling exposed and vulnerable despite being covered by the blankets. Karl wouldn't have it, though. He gently cupped my chin, turning my face back toward his with a featherlight touch that belied his usual strength
Later that evening, Karl and I settled into a secluded corner booth at one of Moscow's most expensive restaurants. The soft glow of candlelight danced across the crisp white linen and glittering crystal, lending the space an air of romantic intimacy. The dining room was a masterpiece of architectural beauty, with soaring vaulted ceilings adorned with intricate frescoes and gleaming marble columns that stretched toward the heavens. Fancy crystal chandeliers hung suspended above the tables, throwing a warm, romantic glow on the luxuriously leather chairs and clean white tablecloths.The sweet strains of a string of classical music wafted through the air from a secluded corner alcove, their melodies blending seamlessly with the gentle clink of exquisite dinnerware and the hushed whisper of conversation from other dinners.The aroma of exquisitely prepared cuisine mingled with the subtle scent of fresh flowers arranged in delicate vases on each table.A waiter in impeccable forma
I could not tear my gaze away from his, searching those Osbidian depths for any hint of deception or guile. But all I saw reflected back at me was sincerity and...could it be tenderness? A profound sense of confusion washed over me as I tried to reconcile this softer, more compassionate side of Karl with the harsh, brutal man who had tormented me since our wedding.I instinctively pulled my hand back when he tried to grab it, needing to put some distance between us as the flashes of my suffering at his hands bombarded my mind. The phantom pain of bruises long healed made my skin prickle uncomfortably."Karl, it's not that simple," I said, trembling faintly with repressed emotion. "What you put me through...the things you did to me...it's not something I can just forget or move past so easily. Those memories are seared into my psyche. I need time to process it all, to heal."I took a shaky breath, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill over. "Every time I close my eyes,
We finished our meal in comfortable silence, though my mind was still buzzing with unanswered questions. The restaurant's ambient lighting cast a warm glow over Karl's chiseled features as he signaled for the check. I watched him sign the bill and leave a generous tip that surprised our waiter's eyes.Karl got up from his chair gracefully and held out his hand to me with a roguish smile dancing around the edges of his mouth. "Come, my dear. I have something special planned for us today." His voice held a hint of excitement, like a child with a secret they were bursting to share.I eyed him warily. My curiosity was piqued despite my better judgment. After hesitating for a moment, I placed my hand in his, allowing him to help me to my feet. His touch sent a familiar jolt of electricity through my body, reminding me of the inexplicable connection that seemed to bind us together.Karl led me out of the restaurant. His hand rested possessively on the small of my back as we stepp
The woman cried out in pain and surprise, and then her eyes widened in dismay when she realized that I had heard what they had said. Her friend tried desperately to pry me off, but I held firm, consumed by rage I could scarcely control.It took every ounce of willpower not to strike her across that smug, sneering face to make her feel even a fraction of the humiliation and anger coursing through my veins."Let go of me, you crazy bitch!" the blonde shrieked as she struggled against my grip. "We didn't mean anything by it! It was just a joke!""A joke?" I hissed, tightening my hold on her hair. "You think it's funny to insult strangers, to try and steal someone's husband right in front of them? Maybe I should teach you a lesson about respect, about keeping your filthy mouth shut!"Finally, I released her hair with a forceful shove. The two women scrambled away, shooting me venomous looks over their shoulders while they fled towards the elevator.I stood there. My chest was hea
The day unfolded in a relaxed and joyful manner, contrasted with the intensity and darkness that so often cloud our lives. We visited various iconic locations in the heart of Moscow, Russia—strolling through the vast Red Square, which was bustling with tourists, marveling at the vibrant onion domes and intricate architecture of St. Basil's Cathedral, and taking a guided tour through the imposing Kremlin walls. We even participated in some cheesy but fun touristy activities together, like riding one of those goofy-looking pedal cart bikes and taking a river cruise along the Moskva River. That was the first time in longer than I could remember that we behaved just like any other regular couple would on vacation.There were no shadows lingering over us, no darkness seeping into the corners of our minds. It was honestly really refreshing and gave me a glimpse into what life could be like if we weren't constantly weighed down by the baggage of our troubled pasts.The sun had begun
Karl carried me all the way up to our lavish hotel suite, still ignoring my token protests until he had gently laid me down on the plush king-sized bed. I sighed in defeat and let him carefully remove my boots and socks then watched him leave to fetch something from the dressing room.He soon returned with a set of clothes and I realized he intended to help me change out of my snow-dampened outfit. A flush of embarrassment crept up my neck at the thought of being undressed by him like a child.I placed my hand over his to stop him. "Really, I can do it myself," I mumbled, avoiding his intense gaze.Karl ignored my embarrassment and removed my hand from his arm with a gentle firmness. He proceeded to undress me with an achingly tender touch. His fingers skimmed reverently over my bare skin while each piece of clothing fell away."I've seen every single inch of your gorgeous body so many times, Lavinia," Karl murmured softly. His eyes burned into mine with an intense heat